Within the framework of the Italian building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) value chain, a new research project funded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment has been awarded to a national consortium, including ETA-Florence, aimed at strengthening innovation and competitiveness in the sector.

The research and innovation project, entitled SolarDesign 2.0, addresses the need to overcome the current fragmentation of the BIPV market by fostering the development of highly customizable photovoltaic solutions capable of combining high energy performance, aesthetic quality, and seamless architectural integration. Within the project consortium, ETA Florence Renewable Energies acts as a specialized consultant in photovoltaic (PV) and building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. Its activities include an initial territorial screening in nine Italian pilot provinces, distributed across Northern, Central, and Southern Italy, to identify representative contexts and building typologies suitable for architectural and open space photovoltaic integration. In parallel, targeted surveys and interviews will be conducted with architects, construction companies, and cultural heritage authorities to assess the current level of BIPV awareness, perceived barriers, and training needs.

Since joining the EPHYRA project consortium one year ago, ETA Florence has been contributing to the revitalization and scaling up of communication and dissemination activities for this flagship initiative. EPHYRA aims to demonstrate how large-scale green hydrogen production can be efficiently integrated into existing industrial ecosystems, paving the way for Europe’s hydrogen economy. The project highlight is a first-of-its-kind 30 MW renewable hydrogen facility in South-eastern Europe – Motor Oil Hellas (Greece). If you are new to EPHRYA, we invite you to explore our project leaflet for an overview of this ambitious yet achievable initiative, which will produce up to 4,900 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Or if you are already familiar and eager to learn more, check out our deliverables for detailed technical progress and read our latest newsletter on our last year’s  engagement activities.

Across Europe, the drive toward climate neutrality by 2050 is reshaping industries and energy systems. Alongside the boost for renewables and energy efficiency, the European Commission has identified industrial carbon management (ICM) as a critical pillar of the transition. Therefore, these ICM technologies are believed to be essential for tackling the hard-to-abate emissions from cement, steel, and chemicals that renewables alone cannot eliminate. However, to ensure the adequate deployment of ICM technologies at EU level, the EU will need to be ready to capture at least 50 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 per year by 2030. Against this dynamic backdrop, the REUSE Project: Enzymatic CO2 Capture in a Rotating Packed Bed and Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Useful Products is exploring a novel frontier: combining enzyme-enhanced CO2 capture with electrocatalytic conversion to transform pollutants to valuable products.